Zihan pulled away abruptly, his chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. His gaze lingered on her for a long, heavy moment, the kind that made her throat tighten. Then, without a word, he stood, and strode toward the bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the room soon after. A cold shower, his way of fanning the fire.
Guo Min sat frozen on the bed, her fingers touching her lips where the taste of him still lingered. A laugh threatened to escape her at the thought of Zihan, always so composed yet forced into a cold shower because of her. Yet at the same time, heat climbed her cheeks, a blush betraying her as she recalled the roughness of his kiss.
"...What just happened…" she whispered to herself, then sank back against the pillows. Sweet, chaotic thoughts filled her head...his voice, his closeness, the way his eyes had burned into hers. Slowly, without even realizing it, her lashes fluttered shut and she drifted into sleep before he could return.
When Zihan finally stepped out of the bathroom, toweling his damp hair, his eyes landed on her peaceful figure sprawled across the bed. He stopped in his tracks.
"…She went to sleep? Are you serious?" His voice was a low grumble, half disbelief. He tossed the towel aside, shaking his head. "I lose my composure, and she sleeps?"
For a moment, he stood there, studying her. The faint rise and fall of her chest, the way her hair fell over her face, her lips slightly parted in slumber. The corners of his mouth twitched, a subtle smile.
Suppressing the urge to wake her, he slid into bed beside her, pulling the sheets over himself. Even as he closed his eyes, the memory of her kiss gnawed at him.
---
The Next Morning.
Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, spilling warmth across the room. The sheer curtains swayed faintly with the morning breeze, carrying the faint scent of fresh blossoms from the garden outside.
Guo Min stirred, her lashes fluttering before she finally blinked awake. Her eyes adjusted slowly to the brightness, the elegant room coming into focus, the high ceiling, the muted colors.
She exhaled softly, stretching her limbs before rolling to the side, only to feel the faint dip in the mattress, the warmth still lingering where Zihan had been. Her eyes flicked open fully, scanning the space.
"Zihan?" she called, her voice still heavy with sleep. No answer.
Frowning lightly, she pushed herself up and slipped out of bed. As she padded across the polished floor toward the bathroom, something caught her eye. A square of paper sat neatly on the bedside table.
She picked it up, her brows lifting as she read aloud, her voice laced with amusement:
Good morning. I have an urgent meeting this morning.
The handwriting was firm, straight, no embellishments. The kind of note only Zhu Zihan could write, so plain. It practically screamed his name.
Guo Min couldn't help herself, laughter bubbled out softly. "Screaming Zhu Zihan?" she muttered, shaking her head as she dropped the note back on the table.
With a small smile tugging at her lips, she walked into the bathroom. The mirror greeted her. She freshened up, letting the cool water wash away the lingering haze of sleep, then carefully applied her makeup until her reflection looked polished and composed once more.
Pulling her hair back neatly, she slipped into a crisp white shirt tucked into a fitted grey skirt. A blazer followed, sharp lines framing her slender figure. She fastened her heels, the steady click against the floor giving her a newfound confidence as she straightened.
One last glance in the mirror confirmed it. Guo Min, sharp, capable, ready. With her bag in hand, she left the room and headed for the office, her heart still carrying traces of last night's chaos even as her mind shifted toward the day ahead.
Meanwhile, at Yufan's apartment.
The early morning light filtered weakly through half-drawn curtains, streaks of gold stretching across the room. Yufan stirred, the heaviness of sleep still clinging to him as he shifted onto his side. His arm landed on something warm, soft, someone.
His eyes snapped open.
A woman.
His entire body stiffened.
"What the..." He jerked upright, his heart hammering against his chest. Recognition crashed into him like a punch. "Wu Lixi?!" His voice thundered in disbelief, laced with fury. "What the hell are you doing here?!"
Lixi's eyes flew open at his outburst. Flustered, she scrambled up, her hair disheveled, face pale. "Ah...I'm sorry!" Her voice shook as she fumbled with her clothes, hands trembling as she gathered her scattered belongings.
Yufan's jaw clenched, his thoughts a blur. How did this happen? What the fuck did I do? He tried to piece together the night before, but his memory gave him nothing but fragments drowned in haze.
"What did I..." He raked his hands through his hair, fury tightening his chest. His gaze turned to her, sharp and burning, though the fire wasn't for her alone, it was for himself too.
"Fuck!!" The roar ripped from his throat as he seized his phone and hurled it across the room. It struck the flower vase with a violent crash, shards scattering across the floor.
Lixi flinched at the sound, her breath shallow, eyes wide with fear and shame. She shoved her arms through her sleeves, clutching her bag as if it was a lifeline.
"I...I'll go," she stammered, rushing toward the door. Her heels clicked against the marble as she practically ran out, leaving behind nothing but the scent of her perfume in the air.
The door slammed shut.
Yufan stood frozen, his chest rising and falling in ragged bursts, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened. The silence of the apartment pressed down on him until he forced himself to move. Stripping off what remained of last night's haze, he stalked to the bathroom.
The cold spray of the shower hit him like needles, but it did little to wash away the bitter taste in his mouth.
He buttoned his crisp uniform with precision, the sharp lines of the army insignia sitting squarely on his chest. By the time he stepped into the compound, his expression was carved in stone. His gaze was enough to silence chatter, and the juniors around him straightened instantly, sensing what the day would bring.
Today will be long, they all thought. And brutal.
---
Meanwhile, at the Guo mansion, life carried on with its own undercurrents of discontent.
In the ornate living room, Tao Yi sipped her tea calmly, while Guo Ji paced like a storm contained in too-small a space. She threw herself onto the couch with a huff, her nails digging sharply into her lips as her jealousy bled through every word.
"Mom, I really can't take this anymore! Guo Min again! She gets everything. Now she's marrying Zhu Zihan?!" Her voice cracked in outrage. "It's not fair how she always ends up lucky!"
Her foot stomped against the marble floor, the sound echoing through the room like a tantrum.
Tao Yi's eyes narrowed slightly. "And you are not unlucky. You and Luo Shuchang will be married soon too." She reached over to pat her daughter's back, as though soothing a child.
But Guo Ji only grew more incensed. She shoved her mother's hand away. "That good-for-nothing, he hasn't even visited me since our relationship was made public! Does he even love me?!"
Her voice was shrill, her face twisted in frustration. Angrily pushing Tao Yi aside, she stormed out of the room, heels clattering against the polished floor as she vanished down the corridor.
Tao Yi sat back, waiting for her daughter's return after she calms down.